Support the Report

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The following information is taken from an email drafted by Bensun C. Fong, BSc & Nafisa M. Jadavji, PhD Trainee Representatives, Canadian Society for Molecular Bioscience

The state of funding for basic research in Canada is failing. As the future of research in this country, we need to take action. Not just for our interests, but for those who will follow in our path, and for all those who will benefit from our discoveries.

How you can get involved

Print out attached sign in English or French and add your name. Take a picture of yourself doing research holding the sign and tweet your selfie to @JustinTrudeau @Bill_Morneau.
Tweets can include:

recent research findings

area of study

whether you have studentship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC

In order to promote the campaign and to ensure Tweets are seen by the federal government, please include the following: #NextGenCanScience #SupportTheReport @JustinTrudeau @Bill_Morneau

2. Sign the SPE Open Letter supporting the Fundamental Science Review

Today, our colleagues at the Science Policy Exchange (SPE) are simultaneously launching a signature campaign for their Open Letter on behalf of Canadian students and postdoctoral fellows, supporting implementation of the Fundamental Science Review from a trainee perspective. As part of a unified front, the CSMB encourages you to visit www.sp-exchange.ca/students4thereport/ to view the bilingual letter, add your signature, and support their upcoming video submission campaign! Be sure to share your signing by using the SPE’s hashtag #Students4theReport.

3. Write a personal letter to your MP

You can find them here, and contact them along with the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Finance Bill Morneau, Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Health Jane Philpott and Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains. We suggest that you introduce yourself, what you work on and why it is important and then tell them how decreases in fundamental research funding have impact you directly. Do not forget to introduce the Naylor Report and how implementing it would potentially change your research and directly say that you support the full implementation of the report
Our colleagues at Evidence for Democracy have developed a great tool kit to aid in letter writing: https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en/rebuildingresearch
Send your MPs an email or a letter (no stamp necessary) to:
House of Commons

We strongly encourage that trainees participate too! You are the next generation of scientists. Think about hosting a letter writing party in lieu of a lab meeting this summer.

4. Request a Meeting with your MP

We all know the value of Face-to-Face meetings. Over the summer while the MPs are back in their ridings is an outstanding time to request a meeting or offer a tour of your lab. Consider meeting as delegation that includes Principal Investigators along with research staff and trainees.
Our colleagues at Association of Canadian Early Career Health Researchers have put together an outstanding step-by-step guide for researchers connecting with MPs: http://www.acechr.ca/summerofsciencecan.html

Let the world know that you have sent letters or met with your MP by tweeting it using the hashtag: #SupportTheReport and let us know about it @CSMB_SCBM so we can retweet your work.
Please forward this email to all your trainee friends across Canada.